23 August 2017

Places To Visit: Cornwall In The Summer

I truly fell in love with Cornwall last year when we decided to take advantage of the weather and go camping (for me, the first time!) on the Southern coast of Cornwall. We stayed near the town of Marazion, in an area with so many things to do and full of natural beauty. If you are brave enough to camp, then I would like to suggest Higher Pentreath Campsite which is where we stayed - it has incredible views, and all the basic comforts you will need on a camping trip. Plus, it's a 10 minute walk down to the beach with the best breakfast cafe, and a sandy beach!

Beach Comber Cafe in Praa Sands do an incredible breakfast - I don't think we ventured anywhere else for morning fuel over the course of the week! Full English is top notch, as is their maple and bacon pancakes. They also do an incredible crab sandwich for lunch! You can sit outside and enjoy the view of the sandy beach - just mind the beaky seagulls.

The town of Marazion is a beautiful day out - and is home to St. Michaels Mount, a small island which you can reach by a coastal path when the tide is low, or take a short boat ride when the tide is high. You can visit the beautiful castle, explore floral gardens, and enjoy a spot of souvenir shopping after enjoying a cold glass of Cornish beer, or wine. We caught the rain on our way to St. Michaels Mount, but that honestly doesn't stop you from exploring such a special place! It was a shame we couldn't take photos in the downpour when we crossed the coastal path to the island, as it's like you're walking on water!

A breathtaking historical site you must visit is the Minack Theatre - an open-air theatre looking right onto the Atlantic ocean. Words and pictures cannot describe how beautiful this structure is, you're transported into the ancient Greek world with the most beautiful views! The history behind Minack Theatre is pretty special too - all built by Rowena Cade, a very special and headstrong woman. I'll let you find out more about her in your own time, or better yet - when you visit the Minack Theatre! They still host performances there so you can grab a warm jumper and enjoy performing arts in the fresh air.

I was also absolutely stunned by the colour of the waters in Cornwall - I specifically left these images untouched so you can see the sheer beauty of the water. When I show people these photos and ask them where they think I was, everyone's like "Greece! Spain!" You would never guess this is just 'down the road'.

Because Minack Theatre is so close to Land's End, we decided to take a quick trip to the edge of England and see what Land's End is all about. I was a little surprised to see how tourist-oriented it was, but I guess so many people want to check this landmark off their list! There is a big car park, and gates to the holiday complex filled with children's attractions, quick snack stops, restaurants, shops. So for families with kids this is great because the kids will be entertained and the adults can't enjoy the view with a cold beer.

The view was what was worth it though. Blue skies, sharp cliffs, deep blue ocean... It was incredible and definitely worth the disappointment of the tourist complex.

Now one of the most exciting things for me when I visit new places in the food. I love food, so for me it's a must to eat fresh local produce - it's very exciting! Cornwall is full of fresh seafood and the famous Cornish crab, so naturally I spent the majority of my allowance on food. You can read my full Marazion restaurant guide here. But there are a few things worth mentioning.

- The best Cornish crab I had was at the Godolphin Arms in Marazion - delicious food with a beautiful view, and an atmosphere which could rival a night out in the Mediterranean. From service to food it was 10/10! So make sure if you're in the area, you visit the Godolphin Arms and order their dressed crab.

- The best breakfast as mentioned was in the Beach Comber Cafe in Praa Sands: order the Full English (veggie option available); or the maple and bacon pancakes.

- The best Cornish pasties come from small farm shops in the middle of nowhere. Don't bother with mainstream shop pasties, but instead wait until you see a small farm shop on your drive to a landmark, stop there and get a fresh pasty filled with local produce. You won't be disappointed.

- Cornwall is a dream for foraging. Get a book on foraging and try it out - this is how we discovered limpets. Also, because there is so much the local food has to offer, when buying food for the week use the fishmongers and butchers in the supermarkets!

I'll finish on the least glamorous picture of me to ever grace the internet, but this was so much fun. Camping, Cornwall, food, drink, beach. And we didn't even mind the rain, because after every storm there is a beautiful rainbow.